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“Roman,” Benito says, his voice sharp.
My brother needs to shut the hell up and find some woman to fuck. Keeping Emberly sweet is the key to getting back hundreds of million dollars’ worth of what was stolen.
Ignoring his impatience, I walk Emberly back toward the patio door. “As soon as I’ve finished with this business, I’ll come see you.”
She turns back to me with a sultry smile. “Can’t wait.”
For the next few heartbeats, I watch her saunter down the garden path. Everything about her is a wonder, from the swing of her hips to the way the sunlight turns the ends of her curls a bright shade of amber.
More importantly, she’s nothing like any other woman I’ve met. Emberly is insanely talented, an untamable little wildflower. She’s so full of surprises that a man could get lost unraveling all her beautiful layers.
“Back to the subject at hand,” Benito grumbles. “I don’t think the Moirai group will call off the hit in exchange for five hostages.”
“Sounds like a good deal,” Gil says with a shrug.
Benito steeples his fingers. “Perhaps for one hit, but Galliano paid for three.”
The last conversation I had with the Moirai representative was with a low-level grunt, who claimed not to have the authority to negotiate. “Benito is right, but those bastards need to know that making an attempt on a Montesano comes with consequences.”
Benito’s gaze darts toward the patio doors. “How close are we to getting back the casino?”
I turn in the direction he’s looking, making sure Emberly is out of earshot. “She’s reviewing the Art Purchase Agreement and just came over to tell me that Lubelli wants to buy one of her paintings.”
He nods. “Does he have the altered contracts?”
“Sending them over.” I slide onto the sofa beside Gil and lean against the leather backrest. “When she’s ready to sign, I’ll be there to distract her from reading the fine print.”
“Good.” Benito’s jaw tightens. “The moment we take back the casino, I want every Capello sympathizer working there terminated.”
My lips lift into a smile. Benito might be the most level-headed of us, but he doesn’t shrink from bloodshed. While I was locked up, I’d forbidden my brothers from moving against Capello and everyone who defected to the backstabber. All that pent up frustration from seeing the family legacy tainted by that unworthy prick is about to be unleashed.
Cesare leans forward in his seat, his eyes bright. “What else do we need to take back?”
I gesture at Benito for him to answer.
“We already have the cash in Capello’s bank accounts,” he says. “After the casino and its attached hotels, there’s the stocks, the real estate portfolio, the loan company, and the contents of the safety deposit boxes.”
Cesare rubs his hands and turns to me with a manic grin. “And then?”
“What do you mean?”
He flicks his head toward the patio doors. “When do we get to…” He slides his index finger over his throat. “I want her on my table.”
The stench of burning flesh invades my memory, and the coffee and biscotti I snatched for breakfast curdles in my gut at the thought of my brother touching any part of Emberly.
I turn to Cesare, my chest burning with anger. “Emberly Kay belongs to me.”
Cesare opens his mouth to protest, but Benito cuts him off. “Roman spent five years in prison while we lived here as free men. He’s the one that gets to decide what to do with her.”
A storm brews in my baby brother’s eyes. He isn’t used to being told no. “But I get to watch, right?”
I bare my teeth. “Keep your hands, eyes, and mind off Emberly, unless you want to lose them.”
Flinching, he stares at me like a kicked puppy, not acknowledging or rising to my threat. Our glaring match continues for several moments until Benito breaks the tension with a loud clap.
“Gentlemen, we have more things to be concerned about than a woman. The leverage we have against the Moirai Group isn’t enough to stop them from coming at us with more assassins. We need another plan.”
Cesare’s scowl deepens. “I say we take an army to New Jersey and kill the Gallianos.”
